MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. About 13% of the Russian economy depends on the Internet and information technologies, Telecom Minister Nikolai Nikiforov said on Thursday in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV Channel.

"2.2% of the GDP is a very sound figure. It is over one trillion rubles ($13.5 bln), being the direct contribution of the Internet into development of the Russian economy. However, if we consider this in slightly broader terms, then it turns out even a greater range of industries depends on information technologies and the Internet. We estimate this figure as 11.6 trillion rubles ($157 bln) - about 13% [of the GDP - TASS]. The so-called ‘Internet-dependent’ industries account for nearly a sixth of the national economy," the minister said.